// Outer layers

Posted on | November 18, 2011 | 1 Comment

Few days ago I discovered that I can wear this old H&M suede vest on top of my grey leather jacket with rather interesting results — not to mention how much this extends the season for both of these garments. The result is slightly boxy — the vest is partially padded and the collar of the jacket adds some bulk — but I think that the long, narrow sleeves balance that nicely.

I’m wearing the leather layers here on top of old Free People lace maxi skirt (worn as a dress) with Weekday nude shirt, black tights and Rützou wedges — one of the few heels that my knee tolerates these days.

Lately I have caught myself dreaming of more streamlined, more edited wardrobe. That is one tricky desire for me, on the other hand I love the possibilities with my packed wardrobe, love the random finds from the past, love the possibility to “forget” the stuff and then take it back to the rotation. More disciplined approach would make things easier, would make it possible to emphasize quality more than now — plus I’m running soon out of space with this hobby of mine… Maybe I should start with the shoes and just let few of the heels go. Their effective play time has decreased dramatically anyway…

Posted on | November 18, 2011 | 1 Comment

// A suit with a chain

Posted on | September 24, 2011 | No Comments

My time has been consumed by work lately. I do not intent to endorse hectic lifestyle with all work, no play –mentality, but hey, in our own small company I don’t always have a choice. I do feel bad, though, that I have opted out from couple of interesting, fashion related events.

However I treated myself with couple of nice accessories for this autumn… …ah, probably for many autumns to come, these are quite timeless pieces.

The first one is Bliss Lau body chain I’m wearing underneath that excuse of a suit. The piece itself is heavy, braided type chain, gunmetal in color. It consists of two large loops connected with two leather bridges, the other one you can see in the front. Despite of the simple construction — or maybe because of that — the chain can be worn in several ways. There’s at least three ways to wear it as a simple necklace, two ways to wear it symmetrically around body (although the other one is not too comfy with my body type) — and one way to wear it across the body. The best part is that it was a bargain in the lovely The Moon & Mars net boutique. I wanted a small chain, to be sure that the chain won’t go under my bust separating the breasts in the middle — and the size was perfect for this. Now I think I could even wear this over some fitting tops.

However, stylewise I’m slightly hesitant to enter to the territory where this kind of bondage jewelry references. I guess that I will be wearing it a lot like this, just peeking out from neck openings, in ensembles that can not be considered sexy by any means. Partially this is just about my attitude towards clothing myself up — but I also feel that worn in this way there’s some restrained energy I’m always drawn to.

I’m wearing my ancient Filippa-K jacket — to be honest it has seen its best days, but somehow I still like it in this badly worn state. The giant black Weekday t-shirt and extremely carrot shaped, cropped pants by Cheap Monday create an egg-silhouette which is not actually flattering, but I love it still. And then there are my trustworthy DocMartens…

Posted on | September 24, 2011 | No Comments

// Weighty details

Posted on | July 23, 2011 | No Comments

Weekday accessory selection is not extensive — but I do love the accessory jewelry they make. Rose gold knuckle ring, matte rose gold double finger ring and antiqued silver necklace (huge and weighty), all from Weekday.

Posted on | July 23, 2011 | No Comments

// The print that made me fall

Posted on | July 16, 2011 | 2 Comments

My second planned sales purchase was this pair of Topshop Unique pants. I kind of loved the whole Unique collection for this summer, but the steep prices kept my hairy little hands off from the pieces — and my credit card safe. However I was actively stalking especially these pants OR the blazer with similar print on the sale. Not both of them, I would definitely not use them as a suit!

Well, I was too slow for the blazer — but I got the pants. I had lots of doubts if the pants meet my expectations even with the sales price — but they do, more than do! I think they are gorgeous — heavyweight silk and the print is just dreamy. The cut is clever, too — slightly awkward cropped length, high waist with wide waistband and generously dropped crotch — the images in the Topshop site really did not give any idea about the details of the cut. The garment clings the legs beautifully when moving — a detail which is impossible to capture to still images. I like them even so much that I tried to hunt down the blazer as well (Michelle, thank you again, you are a doll!) — unfortunately with no luck!

With these pants it is definitely possible to create feminine, subtly flattering silhouettes — however I went for my favorite “loose on loose” look for these pics — not to mention it just feels right when the temperatures are high… The peachy nude giant shirt and the weird, tangly necklace thing are both from Weekday. I got the chain piece from Stockholm after Christmas, I believe it has not been here before. It is not actually a body chain, but a plain necklace with cascading chain loops, inflated to gigantic proportions. So it is definitely possible to wrap it around the body in multitude of ways. It is pain to keep it untangled… …solution is to let it just tangle and enjoy the haphazard results. That gorgeous Sou Brette necklace somehow encourages me layering it with other items — in spite of it being quite showy piece itself.

Posted on | July 16, 2011 | 2 Comments

// The simplest of sundresses

Posted on | July 12, 2011 | 2 Comments

This ages old Filippa K dress has saved so many dog days — despite and because of the material. It is polyester jersey, practically wrinkle proof so I can throw it to any bag and take it out from there without any visible damage. The a-lined shape is such that I truly feel ventilated — nevermind this one being a close sibling to those black garbage bags — material-wise… Two invisible life-savers underneath: American Apparel ruched cotton jersey top (um, have I said “comfy” yet?) and very decent, almost short-like granny pants by Sonia Rykiel for H&M — the latter is necessary because of the almost opaque nature of the dress… Even with these little flaws this dress never fails to make me feel dressed up — even when the temperatures fight against all attempts to truly dress up.

The simple shape guides me to simple accessories, my old silver flip-flops, Weekday cuff. Naturally I have to break the pattern a bit… …the hand-tooled leather bag is one of my many steals from Etsy vintage department…

Posted on | July 12, 2011 | 2 Comments

// White T season

Posted on | July 5, 2011 | 6 Comments

The wardrobe basics — well, they can be even better when they are slightly special. I know that I’m getting back to them again and again, just to clean up the clutter in my mind, remembering how simple dressing up can be.

However this white heavyweight Pour shirt is not exactly a basic tee — but something in-between a minimalistic jersey dress and tunic. The shape and length makes it perfectly versatile and the tail hem just encourages to layer it up with other garments.

It has been so warm and nice lately — thus the lightweight outfits. I love the tunic tucked in to these thrifted and cut acid wash jeans. I left the tight legged jeans purposefully longer — wanted leave more fabric to show off this pretty awesome bright blue / bold bleach wash. Boots are by Ash — and the arm chain by gTIE — honestly it needs some sleeve for hiding the attachment arm band… …works from front with this shirt, but not from the backside — could not resist for the photographing purposes, though…

Another garment begging the company of this tunic: the sheer tail skirt from Weekday. I turned it 90 degrees to get this pleasant hem play — additional perk: my operated knee nicely hidden. Wearing with old supermarket leather sandals, Lindex neck cuff and some very pink lipstick by YSL.

Posted on | July 5, 2011 | 6 Comments

// Soft shades

Posted on | July 2, 2011 | No Comments

I’m not huge fan of nude nails, but I have to say that this gray based Mavala polish is a beautiful exception. I guess that the black undertones set this shade apart. Almost the whole Select collection with tinted grays and a black polish, all with subtle shimmer / pearl for very understated dimensional look found their way to my stash… …and oh, that armor ring is from Weekday.

I also got myself this little magical pot of multicolored shimmer — it is MAC Mineralize eye shadow Clarity. The shades blend to an extremely easy-to-use soft, dirty gray, perfect for soft smoky eye for day use or shade color. With damp brush the shade is more intense and the multicolored shimmer really pops.

Posted on | July 2, 2011 | No Comments

// Cheap and chic

Posted on | May 27, 2011 | No Comments

Nice round frames from Weekday & H&M.

Posted on | May 27, 2011 | No Comments

// Demure lengths

Posted on | May 17, 2011 | No Comments

A nude pleaty thing found it’s way to my wardrobe. I cut the lining out — I’m rather wearing it with separate slip or half slip (you can sort of see it in the pictures) when the top layers don’t provide the coverage I’m comfortable with. Nothing too ballerina-esque with this for my body type, here I’m wearing it with Weekday shirt, H&M shrunken cardigan and Carin Wester clumpy shoes. The skirt is from Lindex — and I was there just to pick a few pair of undies…

I’m kind of loving this demure length, it is so easy to wear and it agrees nicely with my proportions.

Posted on | May 17, 2011 | No Comments

// DIY clutch

Posted on | April 21, 2011 | 3 Comments

So I converted an old leather jacket to this large clutch bag. I loved the heavy leather and striped construction — but unfortunately I did not get along well with the shape and size of the jacket. It cost me one euro — and the original thought was to reuse the fabric if the jacket was left unused.

I thought that this would be a simple little project — just cut the piece from the middle back of the jacket, sew on the metallic zipper and sides — add a long leather stripe to the zipper for easy pulling action… Well, the back piece was weirdly asymmetrical and it took four attempts before I got the pleats right — they give the clutch subtly softer shape and balance the asymmetry.

There’s also a confession to made. My clothes shopping ban has worked relatively well, I have purchased only few second hand things, couple of accessories and maybe couple of t-shirts so far this year. But when the bright jewel tones of this summer arrived I could not resist, I fell not just for this one jewel toned skirt from Zara… …something else bright and new in my wardrobe as well, back to that later. On the other hand I did not get the jeans I was after this spring, so be it.

Excuse my chicken legs… …I do use short skirts and shorts when temperatures rise, but now it is definitely too early. This time I was after my chartreuse tights for this photoshoot, but just could not find them. Shoes are from Topshop and stripy shirt from Weekday.

Posted on | April 21, 2011 | 3 Comments

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About

Location: Helsinki, Finland

Contact: kamicha (a) gmail dot com

I'm especially interested in young designers creations, non-established labels and indie fashion. So if you have something interesting to show, feel free to contact!

You can find Finnish design from both specific and some outfit posts - but both are tagged.

You might be also interested in DIY posts, How-to posts, DIY ideas - or my adventures in Etsy =).

More about me and this blog.